Impatiens plant named ‘Balfusnset’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Balfusnset’ characterized by its single, cupped, apricot-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, upright and mounded growth habit, and excellent basal branching.

Latin name of genus and species of claimed plant: Impatienswalleriana×Impatiens auricoma.

Variety denomination: ‘Balfusnset’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Impatiens plantbotanically known as Impatiens walleriana×Impatiens auricoma andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balfusnset’.

The new cultivar was developed by the inventors, in a controlledbreeding program, during September 1999 at Elburn, Ill. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop Impatiens cultivars with numerousflowers, new and unique flower shape and colors, excellent basalbranching, and upright compact to moderate growth habit.

The female (seed) parent of ‘Balfusnset’ was the proprietary Impatienswallerinana selection designated ‘9516-2’ (not patented) characterizedby its upright growth habit, coral-colored flowers, and mediumgreen-colored foliage. The male (pollen) parent of ‘Balfusnset’ was theproprietary Impatiens auricoma selection designated ‘193’ (not patented)characterized by its upright growth habit, yellow-colored flowers, anddark green-colored foliage. ‘Balfusnset’ was discovered and selected asa single flowering plant within the progeny of the above statedcross-pollination in April 2000 at Elburn, Ill. and initially designated‘PAS 32-05’.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by shoot tip or stem cuttingssince April 2000 at Elburn, Ill. and West Chicago, Ill., hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduce true to type with all thecharacteristics as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length without, however, any variance ingenotype.

It was repeatedly found that the cultivar of the present invention:

1. Exhibits single slightly cupped apricot-colored flowers,

2. Forms medium green-colored foliage,

3. Exhibits a good basal branching character, and

4. Exhibits an upright and mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from the female parent primarily inflower color, flower shape, and leaf shape, and from the male parentprimarily in flower color, flower shape, leaf size, and branching habit.

Plants of the new cultivar can be compared to ‘Balfusradn’ (disclosed inrelated patent application Ser. No. 10/737,401). Both ‘Balfusnset’ and‘Balfusradn’ were derived from the same two parental lines, however,‘Balfusnset’ exhibits dark orange flower color whereas ‘Balfusradn’exhibits light orange flower color.

Plants of the new cultivar can be compared to plants of ‘96-009-4’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 10,973). In a side-by-side comparison conducted in WestChicago, Ill., plants of the new cultivar differed from plants of‘98-009-4’ primarily in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new cultivar have a more compact growth habit thanplants of ‘96-009-4’, and

2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger flowers than plants of‘96-008-4’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describe the colors of ‘Balfusnset’. Theplants were grown for 13 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balfusnset’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of a single flower of ‘Balfusnset’.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,1995 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined on Sep. 3, 2003 between 9:00and 10:45 a.m. under natural light conditions.

The following measurements and comparisons describe plants produced fromshoot tip or stem cuttings taken from stock plants and grown undergreenhouse conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice.The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 15 weeks utilizing a soillessgrowth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately72° F. during the day and approximately 65° F. during the night.Greenhouse light levels were maintained at approximately 4,000-6,000footcandles during the day.

Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana×Impatiens auricomacultivar ‘Balfusnset’.

Parentage:

Female (seed) parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana selectiondesignated ‘9516-2’ (not patented).

Male (pollen) parent.—Proprietary Impatiens auricoma selectiondesignated ‘193’ (not patented).

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Stern (internodel) with two nodes.

Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7-14.

Time to develop a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 days.

Root description.—Fine, fibrous.

Root habit.—Freely branching.

Plant description:

Habit of growth.—Moderately vigorous with good basal branching. A matureplant, 15 weeks after the planting of a rooted cutting, commonlymeasures approximately 24.8 cm in height and approximately 41.6 cm inwidth (plant spread).

Plant form.—Upright and mounded.

Lateral branches.—Quantity: Approximately 2. Length: Approximately 21.5cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145A.Internode length: Approximately 3.3 cm.

Foliage.—Type: Simple. Arrangement of lower leaves: Alternate.Arrangement of upper leaves: Whorls. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:Acuminate/cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Crenate with ciliation.Texture of upper and lower surface: Glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate,arcuate. Size of mature foliage: Length: Approximately 8.9 cm. Width:Approximately 4.1 cm. Color of mature foliage: Upper surface is 137Awith veins and mid-vein of 137D. Lower surface is 147B with veins andmid-vein of 137D. Petiole: Diameter. Approximately 2 mm. Length:Approximately 2.7 cm with 2 mm stipules along edges. Texture: Upper andlower surface: Glabrous. Color: Upper and lower surface: 137D withoverlay of 53B.

Flower Description:

Flower type.—Single, not fragrant with self-cleaning petals.

Flowering habit.—Freely flowering with flowers positioned above thefoliage and facing outward.

Natural flowering season.—Year round in greenhouse environment.Flowering is continuous from spring until fall in the garden.

Flower longevity on plant.—Approximately 5 days.

Quantity of flowers.—Approximately 5 flowers and 6 buds per stem at anyone time.

Mature flower buds (just before opening).—Shape: Ovate. Length:Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1 cm. Texture: Glabrous.Color: 30D.

Flower shape.—Oval, cupped when first open becoming more flat with age.

Flower size.—Length: Approximately 3.7 cm. Width: Approximately 3.2 cm.Depth: Approximately 1.5 cm.

Petals.—Number: Five per flower. Texture: Glabrous. Appearance:Iridescent.

Superior petal.—Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Width: Approximately 1.3cm. Shape: Cucullate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Truncate.Color of upper surface: 13C with overlay of 28C at base. Color of lowersurface: 13C with trace of 25D.

Lateral petals.—Length: 1.7 cm. Width: 1.5 cm. Shape: Obovate. Margin:Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Color of upper and lower surface:13C with overlay of 28C and midrib of 28B.

Lower petals.—Length: 2.1 cm. Width: 1.4 cm. Shape: Obovate. Margin:Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Color of upper surface: 13B withmid-rib of 28A, center of petal having a small area along inner edge of28B and veins of 45A along inner edges. Color of lower surface: 28D.

Peduncles.—Strength: Good. Angle to stem: Acute. Length: Approximately2.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144B.

Calyx.—Consists of 3 sepals. Lateral sepals: Length: Approximately 1 cm.Width: Approximately 4 mm. Texture of both surfaces: Glabrous. Color ofboth surfaces: 145C with tip of 145B. Lower sepal: Length: Approximately1.5 cm. Width: Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture of both surfaces: Glabrous.Color of both surfaces: 145D with tip of 145B. Base of lower sepal ismodified to form spur.

Spur.—Quantity: One per flower. Double tipped. Length: Approximately 1.7cm. Diameter at flower: Approximately 2 mm. Diameter of tips:Approximately 1 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Aspect: Moderately curveddownward. Color: 145B.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Five stamens, anthers are fusedtogether forming one organ that surrounds the pistil. Filament color:8B. Anther shape: Hooded. Anther length: Approximately 1 mm. Anthercolor: N78D. Pollen: None observed. Gynoecium: Pistil number: One perflower. Pistil length: 6 mm. Stigma shape: Five pointed star. Stigmalength: 1.5 mm. Stigma color: Colorless, transparent. Style length: 1.5.Style color: Colorless, translucent. Ovary length: 4 mm. Ovary texture:Glabrous. Ovary color: 143B.

Seed and fruit development: Neither seed nor fruit production has beenobserved.

Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common toImpatiens has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plantnamed ‘Balfusnset’ substantially as herein shown and described,which:
 1. Exhibits single, cupped, apricot-colored flowers,
 2. Formsmedium green-colored foliage,
 3. Exhibits a good basal branchingcharacter, and
 4. Exhibits an upright and mounded growth habit.